Marine marker



S. P. LEWIS MARINE MARKER Feb. 28, 1956 Filed July 10, 1944 S. P. LEWIS United States Patent MARINE MARKER Stewart P. Lewis, Washington, 1). (2. Application July 10, 1944, Serial No. 544,301 4 Claims. c1. 9-8.3) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see. 266) This invention relates to a marine marker and is particularly adapted for use at night in indicating the location of underwater obstructions, depth charges and the like. More specifically, the invention relates to a marine marker adapted to float on the surface of the body of water and issue a continuous flow of combustile gas therefrom in which means are provided for automatically igniting the gas as the marker is brought into contact with the water.

In devices of this type heretofore proposed such, for example, as the marine torch disclosed in Patent No. 1,548,724 for Marine Torch issued August 4, 1925, to Edina Mann, considerable difficulty has been experienced in the operation of these devices as a result of deterioration of the chemicals in the device during relatively long periods of storage by reason of dampness or moisture entering the torch during the storage period and for the additional reason that the chemical material within the torch is not closely confined within a predetermined restricted space and this material, therefore, may shift within the container during the transportation and launching of the marker whereby the chemical action of the water in contact therewith is rendered non-uniform and the torch does not always assume a vertical floating position within the water. This latter condition has been partially corrected in the prior devices by the addition of a relatively heavy mass or weight secured to the bottom of the container.

In the device of the present invention these difliculties are overcome by providing means for preventing the shifting of the chemical contents of the marker at all times during the handling, transportation and planting of the marker whereby the chemical material is invariably confined to a relatively compact space within the lower portion of the container and the center of gravity of the marker is not shifted prior to or during the launching of the device and thus the aforesaid heavy mass is not required to maintain the marker in a vertical floating position within the water. Furthermore, the device of the present invention is provided with means for her- -metically sealing the container whereby deterioration of the chemical content thereof as the result of moisture entering the container during a long period of storage prior to the launching the marker is prevented and in which the sealing means is adapted to be detached from the casing of the marker quickly and easily prior to the launching thereof and without the use of a special tool for this purpose.

In the marker of the present invention, a quantity of suitable gas forming material such, for example, as calcium carbide is closely confined within the bottom portion of the container whereby acetylene gas is formed as water enters the container through an aperture in the bottom thereof and comes into contact with the calcium carbide. The acetylene gas thus formed is ignited by a flame caused by water coming into contact with a quantity of igniter gas forming material such, for example, as calcium phosphide, arranged within a primer 2,736,044 Patented Feb. 28, 1956 chamber, an opening or duct in the top of the container being employed to establish communication between the chamber and the surrounding water as the marker is launched and establishing communication thereafter between the chamber and the air as the marker assumes a vertical floating position within the water. The chemical action between the water and the calcium phosphide, as is Well known, produces phosphine gas which is automatically ignited by contact with the ambient air as the gas issues from the aforesaid opening.

An additional quantity of gas igniter material is preferably arranged within the lower portion of the marker casing and adjacent an aperture within the bottom of the aperture and adapted to admit Water to the gas igniter material while the marker is floating on the water thereby to assure continuous ignition of the acetylene gas in the event that the flame should be extinguished before the supply of acetylene gas is exhausted.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide new and improved means for hermetically sealing a marine marker in which the sealing means be detached from the marker quickly and without employing a tool for this purpose.

Another object is to provide a new and improved marine marker adapted to emit continuous light therefrom while the marker is in use in which new and improved means are employed for causing the marker to float in an upright position on the surface of the body of water.

Another object is to provide new and improved means for igniting a marine marker at the instant the marker comes into contact with the body of water and for preventing the extinguishment of the light emitted therefrom until the supply of gas generated therein and comprising the source of light energy has become exhausted.

Still another object is the provision of a new and improved marine marker adapted to emit light by the combustion of gas formed therein in which means are provided for preventing the clogging of the aperture through which the gas is emitted before the supply of gas has become exhausted.

Still other objects, advantages and improvements will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, of which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the marker constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail for a more complete understanding of the invention, the marker disclose/.1 thereon comprises an outer buoyant casing or container 10 composed of any suitable material such as sheet copper, the container or casing being preferably cylindrical in form and provided with a bottom or lower wall or cap 11, and a top or upper wall or head 12. The edges of the walls 11 and 12 are rolled as at 13 and 14 respectively about the extremities of the casing 19 or otherwise secured thereto to insure a watertight and moisture proof joint therebetween. Secured to the central portion of each of the walls 11 and 12 as by solder or the like are a pair of cup-shaped members or sockets i5 and 16 respectively adapted to receive a tube or container 17, the tube 17 preferably being soldered to the cup shaped member 16 and having a sliding fit into the cup shaped member 15 to facilitate the assembly of the tube in a central vertical position within the container 10.

The tube 17 is adapted to receive and contain a quantity of igniter gas forming material suitable for the purpose such, for example, as a materifl known in the trade as calcium phosphide, at the bottom. portion thereof. The tube 17 is also provided with an additional quantity of the igniter gas forming material 18 as a primer for the marker, the primer material being contained between the upper wall 12 and a perforated cup or screen member 21 secured in any suitable manner to the tube 17 at the upper portion thereof. A cylindrical screen 22 composed preferably of ordinary wire screen material is arranged within the outer container 10. The screen 22 also surrounds and is in spaced relation with the inner tube or container 17.

A disc or plate 24 is arranged at a predetermined distance from the lower end wall 11 of the container 10, the disc filling substantially all the area between the container and the inner screen member 22. This arrangement provides a compartment between the outer container 10, screen 22, bottom wall 11, and disc 24 adapted to receive acetylene gas forming material such, for example, as calcium carbide illustrated at 23. The disc 24 is provided with a circular central opening 25 through which the screen member 22 passes thereby entering the disc 24 within the container 10. A second cylindrical screen member 26 of greater diameter than the screen member 22 surrounds the screen 22 and is in spaced relation with respect thereto. One end of the screen member 26 engages the upper wall 12 of the outer container and the other end is in contact with the disc or plate 24. The screen member 26 thus acts as a spacer adapted to maintain the disc 24 in relative fixed position and in spaced relation with respect to the bottom wall 11 of the container 10, thereby to provide a predetermined fixed space in the lower portion of the container for the reception of the gas forming material 23. Thus, an arrangement is provided in which the gas forming material 23 is prevented from shifting during shipment and handling of the marker and the center of gravity of the marker is maintained continuously near the bottom of the marker and thus the marker is adapted to float in a substantially vertical position on the water without employing a counter weight for this purpose.

The bottom wall 11 of the container 10 is provided with an opening 27 in communication with the acetylene gas chamber. The wall 11 and cup shaped member are provided with registering openings 28 in communication with the igniter gas chamber, the openings 27 and 28 being employed for admitting water to each of the chambers when the marker has been launched. As the water contacts each of the gas forming materials 18 and 23 within each of said chambers, acetylene and igniter gases are generated. The upper wall 12 and the cup shaped member 16 are provided with registering openings 33 communicating with the igniter gas chamber thus providing a vent for the escape of the igniter gas therethrough whereby ignition of the igniter gas will occur as the gas comes into contact with the air. The upper wall is also provided with an opening or vent 34 adjacent the vent 33 and communicating with the acetylene gas chamber for the escape of the acetylene gas therethrough. Thus, as the gases escape through the openings 33 and 34 respectively at the upper wall 12 of the container 10 ignition of the igniter and acetylene gases will occur.

A tear strip or detachable bond 29 composed of material suitable for the purpose such, for example, as copper, is soldered lightly to the bottom wall 11 of the container as at 31 and adapted to seal the openings 27 and 28 therein. The top wall 12 is provided with a tear strip or detachable bond 32 similar to the strip 29 soldered lightly thereto as at 35 and adapted to seal the openings 33 and 34 therein. Thus the tear strips or detachable bonds hermetically seal the container at the bottom and top walls thereof during storage and transportation, thus preventing deterioration of the gas forming materials therein until the marker is launched.

The tear strips 29 and 32 are provided with finger rings 36 and 37 respectively whereby the tear strips may be easily and quickly detached from the upper and lower walls of the marker casing before launching without employing a tool for this purpose. The rings 36 and 37 are secured to the tear strips in any suitable manner such as by forming loops or eyes 38 and 39 around the rings 36 and 37, and securing the free ends of the loops at 41 as by solder or the like.

In launching the marker, the tear strips 29 and 32 are first detached from the bottom and top walls of the container by means of the members 36 and 37 respectively secured thereto. As the marker strikes the water, a small quantity of water enters the primer chamber through opening 33 thereby coming in contact with the igniter gas forming material contained within screen 21. Thus igniter gas is generated at once and ignites on coming in contact with the air, it being obvious that the primer provides means whereby a flame is started at the opening 33 at the instant the marker strikes the water.

As the marker floats on the surface of the water, water will enter through the opening 27 in the lower end wall 11 and come in contact with the acetylene gas forming material in the bottom of container 10. At the same time water will enter through opening 28 in the lower wall 11 of the container 10 and the registering opening in the cup shaped member 15, and come in contact with the igniter gas forming material in container 17. As the water comes in contact with the acetylene gas forming material, acetylene gas is generated, and as water comes in contact with the igniter gas material arranged in the lower part of the tube 17, additional igniter gas is generated within the tube 17. Thus, as the igniter and acetylene gases escape through openings 33 and 34 respectively at the upper wall 12 of the container, ignition of the acetylene gas occurs.

Openings 33 and 34 in the top wall or head 12 of the container may be of any desired shape or size depending upon the use of the marker, the openings being of such sizes as to control the height of the flame and the burning time of the marker. Thus, it is obvious that by selecting the size of the openings in the top wall 12, any desired result may be obtained.

The screen member or spacer 26 performs a double function for the reason that it holds the disc or plate 24 in a fixed position, and also in connection with the screen 22, prevents the opening 34 in the upper wall 12 of the container from becoming clogged.

Whereas the invention has been described in detail with respect to a specific form thereof which gives satisfactory results, it is not thus limited but may include various modifications and changes which come within the scope of the appended claims.

The invention herein described and claimed may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A marine marker comprising a buoyant casing having two chambers therein, one of the chambers being adapted to hold water activated igniter gas forming material in the lower portion thereof and water activated primer means including an additional quantity of igniter gas forming material for initially igniting the marker in the upper portion thereof, the other of the chambers being adapted to hold water activated acetylene gas forming material, said gas forming materials and primer means being adapted to generate and ignite gas by the addition of water thereto, an inner screen member arranged within said casing and in spaced relation with respect thereto, an outer screen member surrounding said inner screen member and arranged in spaced relation thereto and with respect to the casing, an annular plate arranged in coaxial and abutting relation with the lower end of said outer screen member and about the inner screen member whereby a space is formed within the lower portion of the casing outside the inner screen member and below said plate for receiving said acetylene gas forming material, means for admitting water to each of said chambers when the marker is launched, and means detachably secured to the casing and adapted to seal said water admitting means hermetically prior to the launching of the marker.

2. A marine marker comprising an outer casing adapted to float in a vertical position on the surface of a body of water and having a plurality of apertures therein, an inner tubular container mounted within said casing and adapted to receive water activated igniter gas forming material in the bottom thereof, a primer for said marker comprising a perforated cup member mounted within the upper end of said inner container and having an additional quantity of water activated igniter gas forming material arranged therein, a pair of cup-shaped members for supporting the inner container, each of said members having an aperture therein, means for securing said members to the upper and lower walls respectively of the casing with said aperture in registered relation to one of said plurality of apertures within the casing, an inner screen member surrounding said tubular container and arranged in spaced relation with respect thereto, an outer screen member surrounding said inner screen member and arranged in spaced relation thereto and with respect to said casing, an annular plate surrounding said inner screen member and arranged in abutting and substantial coaxial relation with the lower end of said outer screen member whereby a space is formed within the lower portion of the casing outside said inner screen member and below said plate, and a quantity of water activated acetylene gas forming material arranged within said space.

3. A marine marker comprising an outer casing having lower and upper walls, each of said walls having a pair of openings respectively arranged therein, a tubular container arranged within the casing and adapted to receive igniter gas forming material, a pair of cup shaped members secured to the lower and upper walls respectively of the casing for supporting the container within the casing, an inner screen member surrounding said container, an outer screen member abutting said upper wall and surrounding the inner screen member, said outer screen member being spaced from the inner screen member and from the lower wall of the casing, an annular plate disposed about said inner screen member and in abutting and substantial coaxial relation with the lower end of said outer screen member whereby a compartment is formed within the casing below said plate, a quantity of acetylene gas forming material disposed within said compartment sulficient to maintain the plate in continuous abutting relation with the lower end of said outer screen member, a pair of devices detachably secured to said lower and upper walls respectively for sealing said openings, and means respectively associated with each of said sealing devices for detaching the sealing devices from said walls thereby to expose said openings before the marker is launched.

4. A marine marker comprising an outer container provided with lower and upper walls, each of said walls having a pair of closely spaced openings therein, an inner tubular container mounted within said outer container and adapted to receive igniter gas forming material in the bottom portion thereof, a perforated cup-shaped primer mounted within the inner container and adjacent the upper end thereof, said primer having an additional quantity of igniter gas forming material disposed therein, a pair of cup-shaped members secured to said lower and upper walls of said outer container and adapted to close the lower and upper ends respectively of the inner container, each of said cup-shaped members having an opening therein adapted to register with one of the openings respectively in said lower and upper walls, an inner screen member surrounding the tubular container and arranged in spaced relation with respect thereto and with respect to the outer container, an outer screen member surrounding said inner screen member and arranged in spaced relation with respect thereto and with respect to the outer container, an annular plate arranged about said inner screen member in abutting relation with the lower end of said outer screen member and substantially coaxial therewith whereby a space is formed between the outer container and inner screen member and below the plate for receiving acetylene gas forming material, a pair of tear strips detachably secured to said lower and upper walls respectively and adapted to seal said openings, and a pair of finger rings respectively secured to the outer end of each of said tear strips for detaching said tear strips thereby to unseal said openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 752,711 Rose Feb. 23, 1904 1,322,902 Holmes Nov. 25, 1919 1,445,222 Linhardt Feb. 13, 192.3 1,548,724 Mann Aug. 4, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,888 Great Britain of 1911 

